Wonderful Wool

Description

The "Wonderful Wool" event captivated attendees with a deep dive into the potential of Irish-grown wool as a sustainable natural material. Held as part of August Craft Month, the event featured five talks, interactive demonstrations, an exhibition, and an insightful panel discussion moderated by Anna Duffy showcasing the diverse benefits of wool.

This event featured presentations from keynote speakers representing the Irish Grown Wool Council (IGWC) and the Future Island-Island project. Chris Weiniger from Donegal Yarns, Jayne Harkness-Bones of Ulster Wool, Laura Perrem of Stolen Stitches, Lesley Prior of Tellenby Merino Stud, and Future Island-Island researcher Alison Gault from Belfast School of Art shared their expertise and innovative efforts to advance the standards and markets for Irish-grown wool.

The event offered a vibrant networking lunch, allowing attendees to engage directly with the panelists and peers, discussing the myriad applications and benefits of wool. In addition, participants enjoyed a maker's demonstration and an exhibit celebrating the artistry and sustainability of wool.

This event was a part of August Craft Month and our weaving/knitting demonstrators were funded by the DCCI.

As part of the Future Island-Island project researchers Alison Gault and Anna Duffy aim to develop the tracablity of wool with project partners Donegal Yarns and Ulster Wool. The project explores waste management solutions with the community of Rathlin Island before upscaling these across Northern Ireland, other parts of Ireland, and beyond. In partnership with local industry, this research considers the diverse challenges of managing plastic waste and using organic waste as commodities to manufacture new sustainable materials.[AH/Y003780/1]

Period	16 Aug 2024
Event type	Conference
Location	Belfast, United KingdomShow on map